Wandering in the wilderness of Mount Paugus
In New Hampshire’s heavily visited White Mountains, solitude often seems like a lost dream on beautiful autumn weekends, when throngs of people climb popular peaks. But not far from the […]
Family and Kids
family life, activities, family travel
Gray jays, great day: A fall hike on Mount Waumbek
Hiking on the Starr King Trail to 4,006-foot Mount Waumbek, it’s hard to believe that this off-the-beaten-path peak once was part of a proposal for a mega-ski resort stretching across […]
A Ride on the Wild Quiet Side: Exploring Acadia’s Schoodic Peninsula
Schoodic Peninsula is one of those out-of-the way Maine destinations that provokes conflicting emotions: I want to share its beauty, but also hope it remains off the well-beaten path. On […]
Remnants of the Gilded Age at Brave Boat Harbor
Kittery Point, Maine — I dip my paddle in the water, push the kayak into the channel, and glide away from the causeway. I’m paddling into the marsh, heading out […]
Island living, Adirondack style
In July, an opportunity arose to camp with a friend for several nights on a quarter-acre island on Middle Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Park. My friend warned me […]
Presidential aspirations: You can’t always get what you want
I have long held Presidential aspirations — that is, to complete the Presidential traverse hike across the highest peaks of New England including Mount Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. I […]
One hike, many discoveries: A plane crash, a fire tower and stone-age couches
Would we find the plane crash? That was the motivating question as I hit the road early one morning in late June with three middle-school boys. More than 40 years […]
Three generations, ten springs of exploring Cape Cod
For ten years now, I’ve made a spring pilgrimage to Cape Cod with my son and mother, for a few nights over the April spring vacation week or on a weekend […]
Three Hills for Mother’s Day
I have long wanted to hike to Third Hill, the far outpost of York, Maine’s rangy Mount Agamenticus. Third Hill has a reputation for being challenging to find. I’ve known […]
King Pine, the Little Mountain That Could
Here we are in the depths of January, and more than six weeks have passed since a major snowfall. Up north, snowmakers and groomers bust their tails trying to work […]